Statins for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

From the USPSTF and the JAMA Network. Learn more.

In 2016, the United States Preventive Services Task Force updated its recommendations on the use of statins to prevent cardiovascular disease in adults without prior cardiovascular events. The Task Force recommends use of low-to-moderate dose statins in adults aged 40 to 75 who have

  • One or more risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidemia)
  • A calculated 10-year CVD event risk of 10% or greater

The Task Force recommends that clinicians selectively offer low-to-moderate doses statins to adults without prior cardiovascular events who have

  • One or more risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidemia)
  • A calculated 10-year CVD event risk of 7.5-10% or greater

Related Multimedia

The JAMA Report: Statin Use for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults

Author Interview: Dr Douglas Owens on Statin Use for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults

Whiteboard video: Statin Use for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults

JAMA Author Interview with Douglas K. Owens, MD, MS

More Statin and Lipid Articles From the JAMA Network

Trends in Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, and Low-Density Lipoprotein in US Adults, 1999-2014

Asher Rosinger and Coauthors

JAMA Cardiology | Research Letter, November 30, 2016

Role of Nonstatin Therapies for Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Lowering in Management of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Donald M. Lloyd-Jones

JAMA Cardiology | JAMA Cardiology Clinical Guidelines Synopsis, November 30, 2016

Association Between Intensity of Statin Therapy and Mortality in Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Fatima Rodriguez and Coauthors

JAMA Cardiology | Original Investigation, November 9, 2016

High-Intensity Statins for Secondary Prevention

Robert O. Bonow and Clyde W. Yancy

JAMA Cardiology | Editor's Note, November 9, 2016

Screening for Lipid Disorders in Children and Adolescents: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

US Preventive Services Task Force

JAMA | Recommendation Statement, August 9, 2016

Lipid Screening in Children and Adolescents

Elaine M. Urbina and Sarah D. de Ferranti

JAMA | Editorial, August 9, 2016

Lipid Screening in Children: Low-Value Care

Thomas B. Newman and Coauthors

JAMA Internal Medicine | Editorial, October 2016

Why Cholesterol Testing in Children and Adolescents Matters

Samuel S. Gidding

JAMA Cardiology | Editorial, August 9, 2016

Nonfasting for Routine Lipid Testing: From Evidence to Action

Samia Mora

JAMA Internal Medicine | Evidence to Practice, July 2016

Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) Inhibitors for Treatment of High Cholesterol Levels: Effectiveness and Value

Jeffrey A. Tice and Coauthors

JAMA Internal Medicine | Evidence to Practice, January 2016

Evolocumab (Repatha)—A Second PCSK9 Inhibitor to Lower LDL-Cholesterol

From The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics

JAMA | December 1, 2015

Predicting the Overuse of PCSK-9 Inhibitors

Rene Rodriguez-Gutierrez and Coauthors

JAMA | Viewpoint, November 10, 2015

Alirocumab (Praluent) to Lower LDL-Cholesterol

From The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics

JAMA | September 22/29, 2015

Statin Therapy and Risk of Acute Memory Impairment

Brian L. Strom and Coauthors

JAMA Internal Medicine | Original Investigation, August 2015

Cholesterol Lowering in 2015: Still Answering Questions About How and in Whom

Philip Greenland and Michael S. Lauer

JAMA | Editorial, July 14, 2015

Statin Intolerance: Reconciling Clinical Trials and Clinical Experience

Connie B. Newman and Jonathan A. Tobert

JAMA | Viewpoint, March 10, 2015

Statin Therapy and Risk of Fracture: Results From the JUPITER Randomized Clinical Trial

Jessica M. Peña and Coauthors

JAMA Internal Medicine | Original Investigation, February 2015

Evaluation and Treatment of Older Patients With Hypercholesterolemia: A Clinical Review

Timo E. Strandberg and Coauthors

JAMA | Care of the Aging Patient: From Evidence to Action, September 17, 2014

Ten-Year Follow-up After Initiation of Statin Therapy in Children With Familial Hypercholesterolemia

D. Meeike Kusters and Coauthors

JAMA | Research Letter, September 10, 2014

Validation of the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Pooled Cohort Risk Equations

Paul Muntner and Coauthors

JAMA | Original Investigation, April 9, 2014

2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol: A Fresh Interpretation of Old Evidence

Bruce M. Psaty and Noel S. Weiss

JAMA | Viewpoint, February 5, 2014

What’s New With Measuring Cholesterol?

J. Michael Gaziano and Thomas A. Gaziano

JAMA | Editorial, November 20, 2013

Read more about dyslipidemia from the JAMA Network